"Oh," the Canadian suddenly said, "whom have we here? On my soul, compadre, I believe it is an old acquaintance." "You are right," Loyal Heart answered, "it is Blue-fox." "Blue-fox?" the hunters exclaimed, in surprise. The adventurers were not mistaken; the Indian horseman, so skilfully lassoed by Loyal Heart, was really the Apache Chief. The shock he had received though very rude, had not been sufficiently so to make him entirely lose his senses; with open eyes and disdainful countenance, but with not a word of complaint at the treatment he had suffered, he waited calmly till it should please his captors to decide his fate, not considering it consistent with his dignity to be the first to speak. After examining him attentively for a moment, Loyal Heart unfastened the bonds that held him, and fell back a step. "My brother can rise," he said: "only old women remain thus stretched on the ground for an insignificant fall." Blue-fox reached his feet at a bound. "The Chief is no old woman," he said, "his heart is large; he laughs at the anger of his enemies, and despises the fury which is impotent to affect him." "We are not your enemies, Chief, we feel no hatred or anger towards you; it is you, on the contrary, who are our enemy. Are you disposed to answer our questions?" "I could refrain from doing so, were it my good pleasure." "I do not think so," John Davis remarked, with a grin, "for we have wonderful secrets to untie the tongue of those we cross-question." "Try them on me," the Indian observed, haughtily. "We shall see," said the American. "Stop!" said Loyal Heart. "There is in all this something extraordinary, which I wish to discover, so leave it to me." "As you please," said John Davis. The adventurers collected round the Indian, and waited anxiously. "How is it," Loyal Heart presently went on, "that you, who were sent by the Apaches to treat for peace with the Comanches, were thus leaving the village in the middle of the night, not as a friend, but as a robber flying after the commission of a theft?" The Chief smiled contemptuously, and shrugged his shoulders. "Why should I tell you what has passed? It would be uselessly losing precious time; suffice it for you to know that I left the village with the general consent of the Chiefs, and if I was galloping, it was probably because I was in a hurry to reach the spot I am bound for." "Hum!" said the hunter; "You will permit me to remark, Chief, that your answer is very vague, and anything but satisfactory." "It is the only one, however, I am enabled to give you." "And do you fancy we shall be satisfied with it?" "You must." "Perhaps so, but listen; we are awaiting Black-deer at every moment, and he shall decide your fate." "As it pleases the Pale hunter. When the Comanche Chief arrives, my brother will see that the Apache Sachem has spoken truly, that his tongue is not forked, and that the words that from his lips are sincere." "I hope so."